Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

1. Security, protection, safety, asylum (gen. within a church) guaranteed by law, freq. in phr. girth and sanctuary: “the protection given to one who after killing without malice aforethought reached sanctuary” (A. D. Gibb Sc. Legal Terms); also the place of sanctuary. Now only in place-names. Hist.
Peb. 1715 A. PennecuikDescr. Twd. 98: Since it is so, that thou has taen thy girth herein.Sc. 1774 T. PennantTour 1772 251: The precinct of these tombs . . . enjoyed the privileges of a Girth or Sanctuary.Sc. 1797 D. HumePunishment of Crimes I. 365: It was the appointment of those laws, that the manslayer on suddenty was to have the benefit of the girth or sanctuary.Sc. 1828 ScottF. M. Perth ix.: Three or four men . . . came this morning before daylight to ask the privilege of girth and sanctuary.

Combs.: (1) girth-cross, a cross marking the boundary of church lands, hence a place of sanctuary; (2) girth gate, see second quot.; (3) girth-house, a house of sanctuary; (4) girth-stane, a stone marking out the boundary of a sanctuary (w.Lth. 1948).
(1)Abd. 1725 W. OremDescr. Old Abd. (1782) 24: This cathedral had an asylum, a girth or sanctuary, and girth-cross. . . . If the manslayer came to the girth-cross he could be no further pursued, but the clergy received him into the cathedral-church.Edb. 1779 H. ArnotHist. Edb. 304: A fourth [cross in the Canongate] called the Girth cross, from its being the boundary of the sanctuary.Edb. 1895 “S. Tytler”Kincaid's Widow viii.: She suffered at the girth-cross by the Maiden.Sc. 1927 W. D. SimpsonSt Columba 99: It [an early Christian stone at Whithorn] was probably a termon or girth cross, marking the boundaries of the monastic lands.(2)Sc. 1820 ScottMonastery iii.: Haud your peace! Think what ye're saying, and we hae sae muckle wild land to go over before we win to the girth gate.m.Lth. 1845 Stat. Acc.2 I. 536: A causeway leading from the vale of the Tweed to Soutra, . . . bore the significant name of Girth-gate, meaning the asylum or sanctuary road.(3)Ork. 1866 A. PopeAncient Hist. Ork. & the North 108: The temple of Orphir or Gerth-house, was a rotunda 22 feet in diameter and 16 feet . . . above ground.

2. Fig. Sympathetic reception, comfort.
Ork. 1929 Marw.: Of some one going to lay his troubles before another — “He'll get little grith there.”